Dogs and Glue - a sticky situation for your dog

Posted by Clare Bristow

glue bottle Whilst many of the brands of glues we use at home, such as Gorilla Glue, aren't toxic for dogs, the side effects from ingestion can be life threatening.

The Vet Tech blog recalls an incident where a Shiba Inu needed abdominal surgery after chewing through a tube of Gorilla Glue. Apparently the glue tastes like peanuts and maple syrup, and I should imagine that sort of smell is just too hard for a dog not to investigate.

So why are these expanding polyurethane glues such a hazard?

They contain a product called diphenylmethane diisocyanate which expands in a warm, moist environment before hardening into a solid mass.

Even if your dog ingests just a small amount of the glue, the mass that forms will block his gastrointestinal tract. Surgery is then the only way to remove the solidified glue.

What are the symptoms that your dog has consumed polyurethane glue?

These will include: drooling, lack of appetite, vomiting, a swollen stomach that will be tender to the the touch and, if left untreated long enough, the stomach will feel rock solid.

Diphenylmethane diisocyanate is not always listed on glue labels, so view every brand of expanding polyurethane glue as a potential hazard. If your dog has consumed any glue, take him to the vet immediately.

The Vet Tech article also includes a link to a case study on the Orchard Park Veterinary Medical Site which shows the effect Gorilla Glue had on Willow the Standard Poodle's stomach.

Looking at the pictures of the glue that was removed from Willow's stomach is a good reminder of how important it is to keep glue out of our dogs' reach.

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